Internal footwear construction with a replaceable heel cushion element

Abstract

An internal footwear construction is generally disclosed comprising a substantially non-yielding platform, a substantially non-yielding support frame, and at least one elastic element. The platform must extend into at least a portion of the heal region and be disposed above the outer sole. The support frame is adjacent to at least one portion of the heel region and the elastic element extends between the platform and the support frame, above the heel region. The elastic element is spatially arranged to permit elongation and contraction between the support frame and platform. Several embodiments are disclosed for a variety of footwear designs and shoe assemblies. A user replaceable elastic element permits selective adaptation for conventional, athletic and recreational applications.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An internal construction for use in footwear including an outer sole having a heel region and a forefoot region, comprising: a platform for providing support to a user's foot and extending from said forefoot region into at least a portion of said heel region and above said outer sole, said platform being displaceable relative to said outer sole and having a platform attachment means;   a support frame extending about a substantial portion of said heel region and extending substantially perpendicular to said outer sole, said support frame further including a support frame attachment means provided to an upper portion of said support frame;   a substantially planar forefoot portion disposed over at least a portion of said forefoot region, and a resilient heel insert disposed beneath at least a portion of said platform and over at least a portion of said heel region, said platform being substantially planar and connected to said substantially planar forefoot portion;   at least one elastic element extending between said platform and said support frame above said heel region, said elastic element extending from said support frame at a point on said support frame which is at least equal to the height at which said elastic element extends from said platform, said elastic element having first and second end portions and extending between said platform and said support frame along a direction defined between said heel region and said forefoot region of said outer sole,   said platform attachment means including an aperture formed in said platform portion and said first end portion of said elastic element being releasably attached through said aperture, and said support frame attachment means having a cavity formed in said upper portion of said support frame and said second end portion of said elastic element being releasably attached to said cavity;   whereby said elastic element is permitted to undergo elongation in response to displacement of said platform toward said outer sole when force produced by the weight of said user's foot is applied against said platform.   
     
     
       2. The internal construction of claim 1, wherein said platform has an underside surface and a rear portion, and said platform further comprises a recess formed in the underside surface of said platform, between said aperture and said rear portion, for insertion of a portion of said elastic element. 
     
     
       3. The internal construction of claim 2, wherein said first end of said elastic element has a gross geometry and general dimensions which correspond with said aperture to permit releasable insertion of said first end into said aperture. 
     
     
       4. The internal construction of claim 3, wherein said second end of said elastic element includes a portion having a gross geometry and general dimensions which correspond with said cavity to permit releasable insertion of said portion into said cavity. 
     
     
       5. An internal construction for use in footwear including an outer sole having a heel region and a forefoot region, comprising: a platform having a substantially planar portion and continuing into a heel support portion for providing support to a user's foot, said platform extending from said forefoot region into at least a portion of said heel region and above said outer sole, said platform being displaceable relative to said outer sole and having a platform attachment means;   a support frame extending about a substantial portion of said heel region and extending substantially perpendicular to said outer sole, said support frame further including a support frame attachment means provided to an upper portion of said support frame;   at least one elastic element extending between said platform and said support frame above said heel region, said elastic element extending from said support frame at a point on said support frame which is at least equal to the height at which said elastic element extends from said platform, said elastic element having first and second end portions and extending between said platform and said support frame along a direction defined between said heel region and said forefoot region of said outer sole;   said platform attachment means including an aperture formed in said platform portion and said first end of said elastic element being releasably attached through said aperture, and said support frame attachment means having a cavity formed in said upper portion of said support frame and said second end of said elastic element being releasably attached to said cavity;   whereby said elastic element is permitted to undergo elastic elongation in response to displacement of said platform toward said outer sole when force produced by the weight of the user's foot is applied against said platform.   
     
     
       6. The internal construction of claim 5, wherein said platform has a substantially planar portion which continues into a heel support portion and extends over at least a portion of said heel region. 
     
     
       7. The internal construction of claim 6, wherein said platform has an underside surface and a rear portion, and said platform further comprises a recess formed in the underside surface of said platform, between said aperture and said rear portion, for insertion of a portion of said elastic element. 
     
     
       8. The internal construction of claim 7, wherein said first end of said elastic element has a gross geometry and general dimensions which correspond with said aperture to permit releasable insertion of said first end into said aperture. 
     
     
       9. The internal construction of claim 8, wherein said second end of said elastic element includes a portion having a gross geometry and general dimensions which correspond with said cavity to permit releasable insertion of said portion into said cavity. 
     
     
       10. An internal construction for use in footwear including an outer sole having a heel region and a forefoot region, comprising: a platform for providing support to a user's foot and extending from said forefoot region into at least a portion of said heel region and above said outer sole, said platform being displaceable relative to said outer sole and having a platform attachment means;   a support frame formed as a projection of said outer sole and including a support frame attachment means provided to an upper portion of said support frame, said support frame extending about a substantial portion of said heel region and extending substantially perpendicular to said outer sole;   at least one elastic element extending between said platform and said support frame above said heel region, said elastic element having first and second portions and extending between said platform and said support frame along a direction defined between said heel region and said forefoot region of said outer sole, said elastic element extending from said support frame at a point on said support frame which is at least equal to the height at which said elastic element extends from said platform;   said platform attachment means including an aperture formed in said platform portion and said first end portion of said elastic element being releasably attached through said aperture, and said support frame attachment means having a cavity formed in said upper portion of said support frame and said second end portion of said elastic element being releasably attached to said cavity;   whereby said elastic element is permitted to undergo elongation in response to displacement of said platform toward said outer sole when force produced by the weight of the user's foot is applied against said platform.   
     
     
       11. An internal construction for use in footwear including an outer sole having a heel region and a forefoot region, comprising: a platform for providing support to a user's foot and extending from said forefoot region into at least a portion of said heel region and above said outer sole, said platform being displaceable relative to said outer sole and having a platform attachment means;   a support frame formed as a portion of and connected to a mid-sole element, said support frame extending about a substantial portion of said heel region and extending substantially perpendicular to said outer sole, said support frame further including a support frame attachment means provided to an upper portion of said support frame;   at least one elastic element extending between said platform and said support frame above said heel region, said elastic element having first and second end portions and extending between said platform and said support frame along a direction defined between said heel region and said forefoot region of said outer sole, said elastic element extending from said support frame at a point on said support frame which is at least equal to the height at which said elastic element extends from said platform;   said platform attachment means including an aperture formed in said platform portion and said first end portion of said elastic element being releasably attached through said aperture, and said support frame attachment means having a cavity formed in said upper portion of said support frame and said second end portion of said elastic element being releasably attached to said cavity;   whereby said elastic element is permitted to undergo elongation in response to displacement of said platform toward said outer sole when force produced by the weight of the user's foot is applied against said platform.